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Me:ok guys u ready for the start of the finale.

All: yeaaaaa.

Me: well let's get into it.

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Book 1: Water

Chapter 19: The Siege of the North Part 1

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(Opening scene begins with an underwater shot in one of the Water Tribe City canals. The camera pans up above the water line to reveal the canal and the surrounding buildings. Cut to the plaza at the foot of the citadel steps where Katara faced off with Master Pakku in "The Waterbending Master." The segmented ice columns that Katara toppled during the duel have been repaired. It is morning and two waterbending students face off against each other. Cut to the student on the left, a nervous looking teenage boy whose left eye twitches slightly in anxiety. Cut to a close up of the boy's opponent - Katara. She looks very confident, a slight smile on her face. Cut back to a longer shot of the boy who raises up a ball of water, turns it to ice, and throws it at his opponent. Katara bends the ice around her, liquefies it, and sends a huge stream of water back at the boy who is washed up and backwards. As he is washed away, the water turns to ice, imprisoning him about ten feet of the ground. Cut back to Katara who relinquishes her waterbending stance while Pakku approached from over her shoulder.)

Master Pakku: Nice try, Pupil Sangok. A couple of more years and you might be ready to fight a sea sponge.

(Pupil Sangok continues to struggle against his bonds. Master Pakku turns away, makes a motion with his left hand, and the ice prison melts, dropping the hapless student to the ground. Cut to a wide that pans right over the rest of the students who are sitting slumped on the ground. These all appear to teenage boys.)

Master Pakku: Would anyone care for a rematch with Katara?

(They all shake their heads.)

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Toph:hahaha Katara beat all their butts.

Suki: yea go Katara!!

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Master Pakku: Katara, you have advanced more quickly than any student I have ever trained. You have proven that with fierce determination, passion and hard work you can accomplish anything.

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Suki: yea Go Katara!

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Master pakku: (Turning to look o.c.) Raw talent alone is not enough.

(Cut to Aang lying on the ground, floating Momo around on an airball, a lazy smile on his face.)

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Toph: really twinkle toes. Is this why it took u so long to master waterbending

Aang: maybe

Katara: it probably was.

Aang: hey I'm not complaining. I liked u as my teacher.

Katara blushes: t-thank you.

Toph: of course u did.

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Master Pakku (voice over): Pupil Aang!

(Momo's airball dissipates and Momo falls on Aang's head.)

Aang: Yes, Master Pakku?

Master Pakku: Care to step into the sparring circle? I figure since you've found time to play with house pets you must have already mastered waterbending.

(Aang airbends himself to his feet.)

Aang: I wouldn't say "mastered", but check this out!

(Aang spins around, collecting snow around him as he goes. When he is done, he has made himself into a snowman. Momo pounces on him and knocks him down. Cut to Pakku and Katara who wear similar expressions of disdain. Master Pakku shakes his head in disgust.

Fade to a frontal view of the city, then cut to a scene above one of the city's many canals. The shot pans down to reveal another bridge. Princess Yue begins to speak from o.c. as she and Sokka enter the frame from the left, Sokka walking on top of the bridge's guard rail. In the background, the song Iroh sung in "The Waterbending Master" plays slowly in the background.)

Princess Yue: So they don't have palaces in the Southern Tribe?

Sokka (stopping and sitting down on the rail): Are you kidding? I grew up in a block of ice. It's not exactly a cultural hub.

(Yue laughs with a warm smile, and puts her hand on Sokka's shoulder. After a moment she pulls back and looks at him seriously.)

Princess Yue: Sokka, this is wrong.

Sokka: What's wrong? We're taking a walk!

Princess Yue: I'm engaged. It just... feels...

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Suki: ooooh

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(Sokka's smile wanes as she begins to walk away, but the smile returns as he gets an idea.)

Sokka: I know what you need! (He hops off the rail to stand by her side.) You need to meet my good friend Appa!

Princess Yue: Who?

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Aang: u used appa.

Sokka: yes.

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(Cut to an overhead shot of Sokka and Yue entering Appa's pen. He is eating from an enormous pile of greenery in front of him. Cut to a side view of Sokka opening his arms to Appa, who is o.c. in front of him.)

Sokka: Appa and I go way back. Don't we boy?

(The thunder of Appa's shifting bulk is heard and Sokka's features turn to surprise. Appa enters from the left and pins him down with his forepaws).

Sokka: Ahh! Easy!

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They all laugh except sokka.

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(Appa licks him from bottom to top - twice.)

Sokka: Down boy! Ahh! No! Up!

Princess Yue (laughingly): Looks like you haven't been giving Appa enough attention.

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Aang: he does not.

Sokka: yes I do.

Katara: Sokka

Sokka: ok fine I don't really don't give him a lot of attention.

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(Sokka struggles to try and free himself from Appa's embrace. Cut to Sokka and Yue in Appa's saddle.)

Princess Yue: So how does this work?

Sokka: You hangin' on tight?

Princess Yue: Mmm hmm.

Sokka: Yip... (Cut to a close up of Sokka's face) ...yip!

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Aang: why did u say it like that.

Toph: cause he tried to sound cool in front of yue.

Sokka: I did not try to sound cool.

Suki: u did.

Sokka: did not

Katara: u did.

Sokka: did not.

Zuko: gosh Sokka u did we all know.

Sokka:😑😑😑

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(Appa soars into the nearly cloudless sky.)

Princess Yue: Oh...my...goodness!

(Cut to an overhead shot of the city and the waters outside the main city gate. Appa flies effortlessly through the frame.)

Princess Yue: Wow! (Blushing slightly) I can't believe you do this every day!

Sokka (stretching): Yeh, we pretty much live up here.

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Aang: true

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Princess Yue (hugging herself): Is it always this cold in the sky?

(She snuggles up against Sokka.)

Sokka: Not when you're with someone.

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All but Sokka: oooooooooooh

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(Cut to a close of Yue looking at Sokka, her cheeks blushing.)

Princess Yue: It's beautiful up here.

Sokka: Yeh.

(Pause while they look at each other with adoration. They come close to kissing before they break off. The camera zooms out.)

Sokka: Whoo! Yeh! Good times! Good times!

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Zuko: that was close.

Suki: way too close.

Toph: oooh is suki jealous

Suki: no! It's just that she's engaged and all.

Toph: sureee 😏

Suki:😑😑😑😑

(Guys to make things clear suki is not jealous toph 8s just teasing like always.)

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(Around them, what looks like snowflakes begin to fall.)

Sokka (pointing down): Hey, look!

(Cut to a side view of Appa as he flies into a squall of these "snowflakes". Strangely, most of these "snowflakes" are black.)

Princess Yue: What's happening?

Sokka (looking ahead o.c.): Oh no.

(The music becomes foreboding as the scene cuts to an overhead shot of the city, where the black snow is now falling everywhere. Cut a view from inside the city as citizens pause to regard the ash falling from the sky. Cut to Aang laughing as he rolls around in a circle in the snow. Momo is nearby. Within a few seconds ash starts to fall around him, but he doesn't notice. Momo sticks out his tongue, catches some ash and eats it. He spits it out as Aang rolls back into the frame. Aang notices the ash and looks up, Katara now visible in the background doing the same. Cut to a view of Master Pakku and a few other city dwellers near a fountain looking up at the ash. Scene shift again to a close up of a hand picking up some of the ash on the ground.)

Sokka (voice over): Soot.

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Suki:this can't be good.

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(Cut to a wide shot of Sokka kneeling on the ground, the ash and snow still in his hand, Yue and Appa in the background.)

Princess Yue: What?

Sokka: I've seen it before. Right before my village was attacked. It's soot mixed with snow.

(Sokka stands.)

Princess Yue: But why?

Sokka: It's the Fire Nation. They've closed in on the North Pole. And from the looks of the stuff...

(Cut to a wide shot of Sokka and Yue looking over the ocean horizon, which is darkened by a dense grey cloud.)

Sokka: ...I'd say there's a lot of them.

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Sokka: yes no kidding

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(The first scene ends at 41 sec)

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

(Cut to a shot of the prows of three Fire Navy vessels cutting through the waves.)

Zhao (voice over): This will truly be one for the history books, General Iroh.

(Cut to Iroh and Zhao on the bridge of Zhao's flagship.)

Zhao: Just think, centuries from now, people will study the great Admiral Zhao who destroyed the last of the Water Tribe civilization. You're lucky you're here to see it.

Iroh: Be careful what you wish for, Admiral. History is not always kind to its subjects.

Zhao: I suppose you speak from experience? But rest assured, this will be nothing like your legendary failure at Ba-Sing-Se.

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Zuko: jerk

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Iroh: I hope not, for your sake.

Zhao: Tell the Captains to prepare for first strike.

(Iroh turns and walks away. Cut to a quick shot of the ornate prow of Zhao's ship cutting through the icy waters, then cut back to Iroh and Zuko, still in his guard disguise, in a hallway on Zhao's ship.)

Iroh (whispering): We'll be landing soon. Do you have a plan?

Zuko (removing his mask): I'm working on it, Uncle.

(Zuko replaces his mask and they split up. Cut to a shot within the Water City, as the feet of Water Tribe warriors run across the screen, then cut to a shot of two Water Tribe men striking a gong with alternating strokes on top of one of the city's buildings. The gong has symbols representing both the moon and the ocean on it. The scene shifts rapidly to show many city dwellers running up the steps of the citadel, including (briefly) Master Pakku and Sokka, Yue in tow. The Princess stops, bringing Sokka to a halt along with her.)

Sokka: What's wrong? (Pointing up to the citadel) We have to go!

Princess Yue (releasing his grip on her hand): No, Sokka, wait. I can't see you anymore. Not at all.

Sokka (turning in surprise): What? We're just friends.

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Toph: keep telling ur self that.

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Princess Yue: I wish we could just be friends, but I like you too much and it's too confusing to be around you. I'm marrying someone else.

Sokka: You don't love him, do you? You don't even seem to like him.

Princess Yue: But I do love my people.

Sokka: You're not marrying them.

Princess Yue: You don't understand. I have duties to my father, to my tribe. (Running off screen, basrely holding back tears) I have to do this, goodbye!

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Sokka 🙂🙃🥲

Katara: poor yue.

Sokka: hey about me.

Katara: yea of course u too.

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(Cut to a close up of Sokka, looking distraught at Yue's sudden departure. The scene then shifts to a front shot of Chief Arnook beginning a speech to a group of Water Tribe warriors. His voice echoes through the great hall as he speaks. Behind him sit Princess Yue and Master Pakku. On the floor, their backs to a nearby wall, sit Aang, Katara and Sokka.)

Chief Arnook: The day we have feared for so long has arrived. The Fire Nation is on our doorstep. It is with great sadness I call my family here before me, knowing well that some of these faces are about to vanish from our tribe. But they will never vanish from our hearts. Now, as we approach the battle for our existence, (he raises his arms up to the heavens in supplication) I call upon the great spirits! Spirit of the Ocean! Spirit of the Moon! Be with us! (Lowering his arms and continuing his address) I'm going to need volunteers for a dangerous mission.

Sokka (standing up): Count me in.

Katara: Sokka!

(Many other men stand up in the crowd with him.)

Chief Arnook: Be warned. Many of you will not return. Come forward to receive my mark if you accept the task.

(The men form a line in front of the Chief to receive his mark. It is three red lines on the forehead, made from some paint or ink that the Chief holds in a bowl in front of him. Sokka is the second in line. As Sokka leaves, he turns and makes eye contact with Yue before he turns again and walks away. Yue begins to cry silently as the string instrumental from General Iroh's song plays softly. )

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Everyone: 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

Katara: ooh I felt that did anyone feel that too.

Aang I did.

Suki: meet too

Toph:me three.

Zuko: yea me too.

Sokka:😭

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Zuko: (Fade to a shot of Aang sitting on one of the pylons at the top of the citadel steps. He is looking out over the city walls to the ocean horizon in the distance. Behind him the Chief approaches.)

Chief Arnook: The stillness before battle is unbearable. (Katara walks up behind Aang to his left) Such a quite dread.

Aang: I wasn't there when the Fire Nation attacked my people. (Cut to a close up of Aang, a fierce expression on his face.) I'm gonna make a difference this time.

(Cut to shot from behind Aang. He stands up on top of the pylon,Katara to his left and the Chief to his right. The camera zooms up towards and into the corona of the sun.

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Aang: hey it's like in the intro.

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